A "senior party figure with knowledge of MacAskill's complaint", who is plainly the leaker, is quoted as saying Mr Salmond was "completely taken aback by Kenny’s behaviour...Alex no longer trusted Kenny after feeling so betrayed...He was deflated by the unfounded accusations....The reality is that even though he had managed to talk Kenny down from his inexplicable frenzy, Alex no longer trusted him and from then on – although he put on a brave face for the wider party – he did not forget and there had not been a close relationship since then..."
I mean, by God this guy is trying his best, but his efforts must be doomed to failure. Very few Alba members are going to believe that Mr Salmond's own widow, sister and niece would be unaware of Mr Salmond expressing such bitterness and distrust towards Mr MacAskill. He was not exactly the sort to bottle things up. Instead, the Salmond family all seem entirely satisfied that he would have wanted Mr MacAskill to succeed him.
So who could this apparently rather desperate leaker be? The MacAskill camp seem to know exactly who he is, and describe him as a "disgruntled employee". We know from the Sunday Mail's description that he is "senior" within the party. How many party employees could really be considered "senior"? Chris McEleny himself could possibly fit that description as General Secretary. Who else could? I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.
The leaker would also have needed access to the emails, and one person who would obviously have access to them is the person Mr MacAskill sent them to. Given that he seemingly didn't send them to Mr Salmond, and given that they contained his resignation, it seems overwhelmingly likely that he sent them to either the General Secretary (Chris McEleny) or the Party Chair (Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh). But the General Secretary is a party employee, and the Chair is not. Hmmmmmmmm.
And which Alba employees are really "disgruntled" anyway? Remember that Kenny MacAskill recently sent out an email to Alba members pre-announcing the abolition of the posts of General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary, which are currently held by Chris McEleny and Corri Wilson respectively. Mr McEleny did give the impression of being somewhat disgruntled about that (understandable given that he's losing his salary), because he later sent out his own very lengthy email to members trying to reframe his departure as a noble "resignation", without even acknowledging that his position was being abolished - suggesting that he refused to accept the validity of Mr MacAskill's decision.
The "disgruntled employee" would of course also need to have been motivated to commit the leak by having a vested interest in Mr MacAskill losing the leadership election. We know that Chris McEleny had bet the house by allying himself to Ash Regan before the Salmond family ruined everything for him by backing Kenny MacAskill.
So who COULD this leaker be? It's quite the mystery, isn't it. I must say I'm stumped. One thing is clear, though - whoever it is must surely be facing expulsion, because they have caused tremendous injury to the party in the eyes of the public, probably more injury than anyone else has ever caused in the party's four-year history. And "causing injury to Alba in the eyes of the public" is Chris McEleny's all-purpose reason for seeking the expulsion of members. Doubtless this shocking case will be no different. Let us pray this awful leaker, this senior disgruntled employee, is hunted down and punished mercilessly.
* * *
Coming up in future installments of "THE ALBA FILES"...
* How Chris McEleny abused his powers to get an Alba member expelled for making a joke about him on Twitter
* Tasmina And The Written Word
* The rigging of the 2023 Alba internal elections
...plus much, much more. Stay tuned.
This can only have been possible if the Alba Party had incredibly weak internal procedures.
ReplyDeletePrecisely what the 'Wee band of malcontents ' were calling for.
Constitutional reform.
No wonder they were hounded with all the ferocity the cornered rats could muster.
Yes the malcontents were ostracised, bullied and smeared.
DeleteBut none of them went to the unionist press
I saw nothing from malcontents in the press, but more than plenty in blogs, like this one.
DeleteIs it just me or doesn't those leak emails provide more reasons for wanting Kenny MacAskill to win?
ReplyDeleteHe was obviously Alex's close friend but that didn't stop him from taking a stance against him if he thought he was wrong? After his passing many had commented that's exactly the kind of person Alex wanted around him during his time as First Minister: Those not afraid to speak out and suggest different approaches.
The effort being put into stopping Kenny from becoming leader is starting to give me hope if he does.
When the convener of the finance committee effectively does nothing about fraud why would anyone want him as party leader?
DeleteTasmina Ahmed-Sheik is responsible for HQ operations, so if employees were diverted to a private enterprise, that buck stops with her. The media company she partnered with Salmond is in a much healthier financial position than the party
ReplyDeleteThe buck stops with Taz. But she also enjoyed the high life with Salmond
DeleteChampagne
Lavish Dinners
5 star hotels
She joined him at meetings with other politicians and broadcasters.
He provided a lifestyle for her she could never obtain on her own and a political party she had control over.
It was a very one sided relationship where Taz got a lifestyle and a political party - what did Salmond get?
How the other half live.
DeleteHer friendship was reward enough
DeleteIs that a euphemism?
DeleteI'd rather take part in a Chanel No 5 advert with that bloody Keira Knightley.
DeleteSurely the point is that the Alba Party itself was a party, in some ways, being used as a front as an independence supporting political party and a somewhat 'other' body to enable Mr Salmond's personal business and extracurricular intentions - which is why so many have always been dubious about Alba. The identity of 'the leaker' is not the important thing here, it's confirmation of Alba's existence having a dual role in the great scheme of things - which is something very few people have ever doubted - and which is one reason why many many have had doubts about supporting or voting for Alba - or having any confidence in lending it financial support. Especially those members who were altruistically giving it their last £££ which they could barely afford - on the basis of declarations of open-ness, integrity and an alleged 'the dream shall never die' leader whose alleged publicly declared sole motivation in life was to pursue independence for Scotland and that alone and who at one point declared nobody had made the sacrifices he had in order to achieve it!!!!
ReplyDelete100%
DeleteHow was that his "alleged" motivation though?
DeleteHe frequently travelled making political ties and promoting Scottish independence to the international community (we will need all the allies we can get).
We know that's exactly what he was doing just mere hours before his passing and like that conference he attended he didn't go out of his way to make a big show out of the fact that he was there.
Salmond needed expenses, staff and a platform to continue his advocacy for Scottish independence - fair enough no one grudged him that but when it became a commercial venture with Tasmina then their was an obvious conflict
DeleteWhy was a husband and wife a Big mistake running the SNP but partners in a commercial venture not a huge mistake running Alba
Even Salmond’s memorial today is being filmed for a future episode of Scotland Speaks
What a nasty post , full of falsehoods and lies
DeleteCriticising Saint Alex ? Tut tut.
ReplyDeleteObviously didn't leave much of an impact since the Salmond family are backing Kenny for leader.
DeleteKenny should go back to SNP.
ReplyDeleteWhy would he? It hasn't changed.
DeleteSwinney and the cabal still in charge, making the party more undemocratic daily. And, more importantly, still no plan to achieve Scotland's Cause!
Returning to a place from which you left because of its shortcomings merely endorses the stance of thos ein charge.
There are no Indy folk in the SNP. Why would an Indy guy go there? Devolution is the SNP goal and they have achieved it, only salary and pension to be harvested now.
DeleteApart from the nepotistic sewage it sounds very much like a party leader committing fraud.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily him. It would be whoever actually arranged and paid for any non-authorised spending - leaders rarely use the cheque book, it's more their designated assistants.
DeleteTasmina Ahmed-Sheikh handled all the arrangements and paid
DeleteShe also directed HQ staff
AS would know what’s going on.
DeleteApart from the nepotistic sewage it sounds very much like a party leader committing fraud to further his career in entertainment.
ReplyDeleteThat's show business !
DeleteIf the intention was to help promote a relatively little known party and its Independence policy by exposure of its well known leader at the Edinburgh Fringe, it becomes marketing.
DeleteA bit similar to Sturgeon and her helicopter and Road show including at the Hydro. Few would argue that that was a bad use of party funds - the SNP got 56 MPs elected in 2015.
DeleteThe show's main promotion was for the ex-speaker of the House of Commons. I have no idea if Tazmina & Alex's production company produced it, nor do I care.
Delete" in which Kenny MacAskill criticises Alex Salmond for diverting party funds into his Edinburgh Fringe show"
ReplyDeleteAn honest man would always get my vote if I was a member, and wanted my party money to be spent on - duh, my party.
It's also beginning to explain why MacAskill is apparently taking no action in your case - if he tried he would be obstructed.
I think that an honest man would report it to the police.
DeleteDeleted Anon: I do understand your desperation to discredit me, but I'm not sure criticising me for not revealing information about Alba *before my expulsion* is the most promising tack, especially given that the official reason for my expulsion was a (bogus) allegation of breaching confidentiality. The reality is that I did my best to alert Alba members that something was amiss, while remaining within confidentiality rules. That was all I could realistically do.
ReplyDeleteNoted that the leak was to the Unionist paper Sunday Mail.
ReplyDeleteNot the first time. McEleny has been quoted quite a few times, he seems to be the DM's regular go to.
DeleteThe blessings of January to you all, my most magnificent of companions.
ReplyDeleteQuality sentiment, Zulfs.
DeleteAlmost right Zulfs but I’m afraid McEleny is expelled from the Wee Gang due to his closeness to unionist press.
DeleteThe Malcontents have standards
We will 😀
DeleteThis is a completely ham-fisted attempt to discredit Kenny, and as a member of Alba, I am absolutely furious with whoever is responsible for this. This kind of behaviour is not just petty but deeply damaging to the party. I have been reliably informed this morning that Regan is also furious about the leak and knows all too well who has done this. There is no doubt in my mind that the perpetrator is acting out of self-interest, seeking to ensure their own relevance within the party and secure the top spot on the list in their preferred region.
ReplyDeleteThis isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of behaviour, and it’s both undignified and unprofessional. It harms Alba’s reputation and undermines the hard work of members who are focused on building the party’s credibility and success. Let’s not be naïve about their intentions. This isn’t about independence, Alba, or Regan—it’s about their own ambitions. They are deliberately creating grievances from which they alone stand to benefit, not the party.
If Kenny wins, there’s every expectation that they’ll storm off in a huff, poisoning the well on their way out and defecting to the next opportunity. Their actions suggest a willingness to prioritise their own standing over the party’s success, and this needs to be called out for what it is: self-serving, not selfless. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re already scouting for their next political venture. Anyone got Mr Farage’s number handy?
I remain undecided on who to vote for in this leadership election. I have respect for both candidates, and I want to see a clean, professional contest where the focus is on policies, strategy, and vision for the party. Alba’s internal governance has been woeful, and this situation underscores the urgent need for reform. We need better policies that resonate with Scotland’s needs, high-quality candidates who reflect the best of what Alba can offer, and a targeted, achievable strategy to maximise votes in 2026.
This kind of infighting and backstabbing does nothing but tarnish the party’s image and distract from its purpose. Alba must move forward as a united front, with members who are focused on achieving our shared goals—not dragging us into the mud for personal gain
Well said.
Delete"I am absolutely furious with whoever is responsible for this"
DeleteIt's McEleny, let's be honest. He's barely even attempted to cover his tracks this time.
McEleny is responsible for many members being bullied out of the party.
DeleteOne example is Jacqui Bijster another Ashley Miller another Heather McLean.
Tasmina became jealous of Denise Findlay and bullied her out.
Yet many remaining members instead of asking what was going wrong ? Branded them as a wee gang of malcontents
They abused them on social media. Othered them. Leanne Tervit was called a racist.
Do these members really deserve to suceed after the way they have treated people who worked so hard for the party ?
Anon at 7.01. McEleny. There you are.
DeleteIf Ash does not approve of the story in the Sunday Mail, she can demonstrate that by modifying her list of staff. If she fails to do so , I will conclude she approved the story.
DeleteAsh Regan needs to channel her inner Khrushchev and publicly denounce McEleny for the leak. It's her only remaining chance. Her best course of action would be to personally submit a complaint against him and be seen to have initiated the process leading to his expulsion. It'll be brutal, but as with Ceausescu before him, he probably needs to be seen to suffer the same grisly fate as so many of his victims.
ReplyDeleteMaybe she's on a trust journey.
DeleteI agree. She needs to denounce this leak without delay. This move has been counter productive, and has holed her chances of winning this election unless she publicly distances herself from this idiot. The person who leaked needs to resign their position with immediate effect. Their presence in this election is no different to that of Murrell in the 2023 SNP leadership election and will cause lasting damage to Alba. The results of this leadership election will be mired with credible accusations of bias and will endlessly split the party.
Delete'In the name of God, go!'
Agreed. She would recover some credibility. She is photogenic and personable. Second in command to McKaskill would be your best bet. As someone backing SNP I hope it doesn’t happen, as do others.
DeleteVote for Regan she’s photogenic! So no policies then.
DeleteOh yes, we in the SNP are VERY WORRIED about Ash Regan. PLEASE don't pick her. (Wink.)
DeleteAnon at 8.23. She has no clue about policy. Have you not heard her? But she has an appeal, and voters are what they are. You clearly do not understand what I say and more importantly why I say it. I can’t be bothered explaining it to you.
DeleteAnon at 8.25. Whooosh.
DeleteIn general it's very hard to prove or even allege fraud, as there has to be provable deliberate action to commit fraud. In the old days even issuing a cheque knowing it would bounce was hard to prove, as the issuer could claim they expected to deposit funds in time, at least for the second bounce!
ReplyDeleteAs for misuse for funds, if I go on a business trip and my wife comes with me, and she gets a new customer - was that a business or pleasure trip for me, and / or for her, as far as the HMRC are concerned? What was the primary purpose of the trip?
Unless it’s SNP. Then it’s guilty without trial. You are a consumate hypocrite.
DeleteShock horror. Murrell ultra-loyalist and traitor to Scotland is trying to destroy Alex Salmond's legacy.
ReplyDeleteGenuinely no one has any idea who you're talking about.
DeleteAnybody know what the Anonymous post at 4:41 was all about?
DeleteWhat are you gibbering about?
ReplyDeleteStrappling. Total quivning. Total.
DeleteI read the article. The intent is clear. The result is the opposite, I think. Probably Kenny is the winner here, he comes out looking very reasonable and responsible. Which I very much doubt was the intention.
ReplyDeleteEven as someone who has never, and shall never, vote for the Alba Party, I hope he becomes their leader. A decent bloke, albeit one paddling a rapidly sinking canoe.
If McAskill can turn Alba into what it's meant to be, I'll join.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s it meant to be. The anti murrel party?
DeleteHere's an example of how journalist maths works. From the herald:
ReplyDelete"... our published membership at June 1 was 64,525 and this trend — both in terms of numbers and income — has continued into the second half of the year. ... With 4,000 members quitting each year since 2023, a continuation of that trend suggests the party will now have a membership of 60,000"
Wait, what, eh? June 1 2024 to now is less than 8 months - 65% of a year say. 65% of 4,000 is 2,600. Take this away from 64,525 and you get 61,925.
So I have a deal for Andrew - if he gives me £61,925 I'll give him back £60,000. Deal or no deal? Double or quits?
Gibberish. Give it a rest.
DeleteOK, dunce at 7:35.
DeleteI thought Yi2 you couldn’t give SGP a penny.As for your post it was described as gibberish. I think that is too generous.
DeleteThought made a fool of you
DeleteI see YIR2’s wee “pal” is doing overtime. Two posts critical of YIR2. Two anon (cough cough) responses by the same anon. It’s almost endearing that he is that stupid.
DeleteHe made a great speech at conference. We can all agree.
DeleteThe front page of the Sunday Mail was about a convicted killer in prison being released to get cosmetic surgery to look less like a man. That’s right a transwoman who is a killer getting public funds spent on him/her (take your pick). Outrageous spend when money in government is supposed to be short and people have to wait a long time for operations. Somebody should get the sack over this but they won’t and this nonsense is part of Sturgeon’s trans legacy.
ReplyDeleteFront page of the Mail? And you believe it? Let me guess. “An insider said”!followed by an SNP bad diatribe? Stop being so gullible and doing the unionists work for them .
DeleteAm I on the wrong thread, thought this story was about Alba? how the f''k do you go from Kenny McAskill to a trans woman prisoner?
DeleteHave your ever seen them in the same room? Lol
DeleteThis looks like it is all coming to a sad end. Salmond now gone, they are using Unionist media to undermine each others leadership bid, if i'm an Alba member ( im not) then this is unforgiveable, and the writing is now clearly on the wall.
ReplyDeleteI don’t see that Chris would have leaked this. It is far too obvious a move. Who gained? Kenny who comes out looking principled. Kenny is a front for the Salmond Family and there is a far more likely character in that grouping that would have leaked to damage Chris
ReplyDeleteChris and Ash. They are tying Chris to Ash to damage her
DeleteNice try McEleny (or minion thereof) but a bit obvious. You are quite stupid on top of everything else. The good news is Alba are finished, if indeed they ever started. A list vote party interested in promoting Independence is what we need, not an anti SNP party. Does it exist? PS. ISP need not apply.
Delete"Who gained? Kenny who comes out looking principled."
DeleteThe simplest explanation is usually the correct one, and the simplest explanation here is that McEleny is a bit dim, or at the very least too one-dimensional in his thinking to spot how this was going to backfire on him. I have no doubt whatever that McEleny was the leaker.